From the archive record
Women of Barsana beating men of Nandgaon with sticks during Lathmaar Holi. Village Barsana celebrates Holi in most traditional way. In the Lathmar Holi, the women of Barsana (hometown of Radha) beat the men from Nandgaon (Krishna's home town) with wooden sticks in response to their teasing. Lath mar Holi is a local celebration of the Hindu festival of Holi. It takes place days before the actual Holi in the neighbouring towns of Barsana and Nandgaon near Mathura in the state of Uttar Pradesh, where thousands of Hindus and tourists congregate, each year. Legend has it that Lord Krishna visited his beloved Radha's village on this day and playfully teased her and her friends. Taking offence at this, the women of Barsana chased him away. Since then, men from Krishna's village, Nandgaon, visit B